Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 2, 2021 Moderators Share Posted December 2, 2021 Quote “Fisher” operation nets 56 including 9 officials with Gulf Clan ties Posted 01/12/2021 Javier Caraballo the acting attorney general announced on Wednesday that a total of 56 people, linked to the Gulf Clan, have been provisionally apprehended, after carrying out a total of 64 search procedures. Caraballo, who was accompanied by the director of the National Police, John Omar Dornheim Castillo, and the director of the National Aeronaval Service, Jeremías Urieta Quintero, said that among those arrested were nine officials including five from security services . Four are members of the National Police, among them, an officer with the rank of major and a captain of the National Air Naval Service. There is also an official from the Ministry of Education, two officials from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), and one from a Communal Board in the province of Colón. The operation called "Fisher" was part of an investigation that began a little less than two years ago, destined or directed to dismantle one of the groups that served as logistical support to the criminal organization in Panama. This criminal group, according to the attorney in charge Caraballo, had the mode of operating the receipt of large quantities of drugs from Colombia, along the Atlantic coast, province of Colón and Bocas del Toro, where it was stored and later delivered to other groups. with whom the Gulf Clan had previously negotiated. According to Caraballo, in Panama this group had Jorge Luis General as its leader r. The main characters of the 56 apprehended had no criminal record, that is, they were in the criminal world for a long time and had managed to evade the authorities. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/fisher-operation-nets-56-including-9-officials-with-gulf-clan-ties-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 3, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 3, 2021 Quote Guarantees hearing of 56 with alleged links to Colombian cartel adjourned Posted 02/12/2021 The guarantees hearing of 56 people apprehended through Operation Fisher and who are allegedly linked to the criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking known as Clan del Golfo was suspended after several hours on Thursday, December 2. It will resume this Friday, December 3 at 2:00 pm when it is expected that the defense lawyers will be able to see the folder that consists of 33 volumes. The Public Ministry had previously reported that during the diligence they would request the imputation of charges for money laundering and illicit association to commit a crime and request the application of the respective precautionary measure. During this first day of the guarantees hearing, the profile of each of the apprehended and the defense lawyers were read. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/guarantees-hearing-of-56-with-alleged-links-to-colombian-cartel-adjourned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 3, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 3, 2021 Quote Millions of dollars found in Colon house Posted 02/12/2021 Following the arrest of 56 people including nine officials, Panamanian authorities have uncovered a large stash of money inside a cove in a house in the Limón sector, Colón province. The “Fisher” operation, dismantled a network dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering was and collaborated with the Clan del Golfo, of Colombia . The commissioner of the National Police, Julio Wong, reported that the money is still being counted, while it must be established whether the bills are real or not. However, he announced that these are "millionaire sums." "We must wait for the official count," he emphasized. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/millions-of-dollars-found-in-colon-house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 3, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 3, 2021 Quote Over $10 million drug money seized in Fisher operation Posted 03/12/2021 A dozen machines provided by banking entities and over 50 officials at the National Police headquarters In Ancón were needed to count the $10,91,873 seized in "Operation Fisher" on Thursday, December 2. Attorney General Javier Caraballo said: "without a doubt, it is the largest seizure of money from drug trafficking that has been made in the entire history of the country." The seizure is part of the investigations carried out by the Public Ministry for about two years, and which resulted in the apprehension of 57 people, including security services personnel and 10 women. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/over-10-million-drug-money-seized-in-fisher-operation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 4, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 4, 2021 Quote Organized crime infiltrates government and security services Captured suspects arriving for guarantees hearing Posted 03/12/2021 The “Fisher” operation carried out by the First Prosecutor for Drugs of the Public Ministry (MP), in conjunction with the National Police, reveals, once again, the infiltration of organized crime in the governmental apparatus and in the ranks of the entities in charge of public safety reports La Prensa. Of the 56 people apprehended on Wednesday in the provinces of Panama, Panama Oeste, and Colón, four belong to the National Police (PN) and one to the National Aeronaval Service, while two worked in the Panama Canal Authority, another in the Ministry of Education and one in a communal board. Sources linked to the investigation, who requested anonymity for security reasons, detailed to La Prensa that the police officers involved were guarding the drug shipments and gave key information to the criminal organization to guarantee the success of their operations. The director of the National Police, John Dornheim, said at a press conference that he will not allow his agents to collaborate with criminal organizations. "Whoever crosses the road has two destinations: one, jail and the other, dismissal”. However, this is not the only case where it is detected that police collaborate with illicit activities. In most anti-drug operations, the authorities themselves reveal that there are linked agents. Mayor’s family The prosecutor's office in charge of the investigation told La Prensa that the detainees included two relatives of Carlos Chavarría, mayor of Portobelo, province of Colón. They are his son, Carlos Chavarría Ceballos, and his niece Jeshihara Chavarría. Mayor Chavarría belongs to the Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement, (Molirena) an ally of the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). Attorney General Javier Caraballo stressed that the criminal group had the task of receiving large quantities of drugs that were sent by the Clan del Golfo, from Colombia. They received it on the Costa Arriba of Colón, then they hid it in “caletos” and, later, at the request of the cartel, the drugs were delivered to people with whom the Colombian group had negotiated. The network moved cargo to Panama City, through vehicles whose structure had been altered (double bottom). They also transported it in gas cylinders, vehicle tires, or speedboats. They sent it to Central America and from there to the United States. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/organized-crime-infiltrates-government-and-security-services Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 4, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 4, 2021 Quote The time is ripe to move bill on illicit assets A luxurious beach house in Rio Hato raided in Operation Fisher. Posted 04/12/2021 The operation in which the State security forces participated, which resulted in the capture of 57 people, the seizure of more than $10 million, cars and luxury properties, and surely the dismantling of a criminal gang that was dedicated to the custody and transportation of drugs through Panama and Central America —with their final destination to the United States— is an important triumph that was also possible thanks to the intervention of the US authorities. This case leaves several issues to analyze. In the first place, the Government and security forces of Panama are penetrated by drug trafficking. Second, these gangs are as dangerous as they are recursive since among their members there were informants who facilitated their criminal activity. Third, that, given the enormous amount of property seized, it is necessary that the National Assembly leave the detours and excuses to approve the bill for the extinction of ownership of illicit assets. To modify the Criminal Procedure Code or approving transfers of millionaire games does not take so many turns, but to stop the enrichment of these criminals, they have more scruples and reluctance. This operation shows that the approval of this bill is urgent. – LA PRENSA, Dec. 4. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-time-is-ripe-to-move-bill-on-illicit-assets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 5, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 5, 2021 Quote Arrest of 57 with alleged links to drug cartel legalized Posted 04/12/2021 A guarantees judge legalized on Saturday, December 4 the apprehension of 57 people allegedly linked to the Colombian drug cartel Clan del Golfo who were captured in Operation Fisher. On Friday the judge legalized, the 10 raids carried out in the Fisher operation. Those raids included the houses linked to Jorge Luis General, alias El General, in Nueva Providencia, and in Costa Verde, in La Chorrera. According to the judicial authorities, in a house linked to El General, the supposed leader of the criminal organization, located in Nueva Providencia, province of Colón, $10,917,871 were found in cash, in three coves, an unprecedented figure in seizures in the country. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/arrest-of-57-with-alleged-links-to-drug-cartel-legalized Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 6, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 6, 2021 Quote 57 charged with cartel links Posted 06/12/2021 On Sunday, December 5 Guarantees, Judge Teodolinda Cardoze, charged 57 people, arrested in Operation Fisher with money laundering and illicit association to commit a crime. In the Fisher operation, the Public Ministry and the prosecution detained alleged members of a criminal network associated with the Gulf Clan. Among the procedures carried out by the authorities, over $10 million were seized; a beach house in Río Hato (Coclé), valued at $1 million; 11 luxury vehicles and 4 yachts. During the hearing, the defense attorneys opposed the accusation of charges made by the Public Ministry, alleging that no concrete evidence was supported of the links between the detainees and the crimes charged. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/57-charged-with-cartel-links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 7, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 7, 2021 Quote Plea deal earns Operation Fisher detainee 68 months Posted 07/12/2021 A plea agreement with the Drug Prosecutor’s Office resulted in a 68 months prison sentence for one of the detainees in “Operation Fisher”, against a criminal structure that operated in the country in collaboration with the Colombian cartel Clan del Golf. The man was convicted on Monday, December 6 on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and is the first person convicted in a case that has captured the attention of regional media since the first week of December. It was the fifth day of the hearing of the Fisher operation, where the Public Ministry obtained precautionary measures to 22 of the 57 defendants. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/plea-deal-earns-operation-fisher-detainee-68-months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 9, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 9, 2021 Quote Prosecutors seek provisional arrest of 56 in drug bust Posted 08/12/2021 Drug prosecutors have requested provisional arrest imposed on 56 of the 57 investigated for alleged offenses of laundering and conspiracy laundering because of their ties assumptions with a criminal network associated with the Clan del Golfo that operates in the coasts of Colón, Panama and Coclé. The other accused has already negotiated a plea deal of 68 months jail time. During the fifth day of the hearing, the prosecutor Joseph Díaz said that the detention measure requested is appropriate, because they are serious crimes and all the accused are highly dangerous for the community. The prosecutor revealed that the network managed a large group of frontmen led by a lawyer, who was in charge of managing the creation of joint-stock companies for the acquisition of properties with which money from drug trafficking was legitimized. The prosecutor said that the lawyer created the companies, then bought the properties that, later, were transferred to other members of the gang, in order to simulate an alleged sale. According to the prosecution, this modus operandi extended to the purchase of luxury vehicles, valued at $60,000, $80,000, and up to $132,000, which were then used by Jorge Luis General - alleged leader - and other members of the network to travel to different points of the country The frontmen, including an official from the Ministry of Education, made their names available to the network for the acquisition of a farm valued at $1 million located in Río Hato, and another in Montelimar, in La Chorrera, valued at $335,000 A financial report by the National Police revealed that the front men used cashier's checks and on other occasions credit cards for payments, but never occupied the properties, as is the case of an apartment at PH Astoria in El Cangrejo, which is registered in the name of a company, but in reality, it was occupied by General. A police report details that the apartment was also used by the leaders of the group to hold meetings. Investigations also reveal that the Magna Pesca company was used as a screen for legitimizing money from illegal activities. The prosecution confirmed that members of the network traveled to Colombia to meet with members of the Clan del Golfo. During the hearing, it emerged that the Clan has a territory dispute with a gang led by alias Marshall, detained in Punta Coco, for which it is presumed that an attack suffered by General is related to the rivalry. The Defense Defense lawyers alleged that the prosecution has presented a series of evidence on the purchase of properties without having corroborated them in the Public Registry and the Ministry of Economy and Finance since these properties were acquired between 2015 and 2016, long before the investigations started. They also alleged that surveillance and monitoring procedures carried out by the Police speak of meetings, but do not provide any details about the content of the conversations, some of which were of a family nature. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prosecutors-seek-provisional-arrest-of-56-in-drug-bust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 10, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 10, 2021 Quote 51 get provisional detention in Operation Fisher hearing 57 people were arrested Posted 09/12/2021 Guarantee Judge, Teodolinda Cardose, at the request of the First Drug Prosecutor on Thursday, December 9 ordered the provisional arrest of 51 people for the crime of money laundering and illicit association to commit a crime, for their involvement in Operation Fisher The judge ordered three of the defendants the measure of house arrest and two the measure of periodic notification. ON Wednesday, December 8 the judge declared a recess in the hearing, because she was exhausted, and she did not want that fatigue to affect the decision she would take regarding the precautionary measures that should be imposed on the accused reports TVN. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/51-get-provisional-detention-in-operation-fisher-hearing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 13, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 13, 2021 Quote Most Operation Fisher detainees have no crime records Posted 12/12/2021 Most of the 57 people arrested in Operation Fisher did not have a criminal record says acting Attorney General Javier Caraballo but ended up providing logistical support to the Colombian drug cartel Clan del Golfo and accumulating large amounts of money while keeping a low profile structuring groups like the one that was dismantled two weeks ago, he said. In the Sunday Open Debate program on Telemetro, Caraballo said that the ease with which this criminal group managed to introduce large amounts of money to the economic circuits also called attention. "We are talking 12 buildings or houses were seized from the criminal group, many were luxury, in addition to the money that they cannot justify," he said. The "caletos" (hiding places) - where about 10 million dollars were located - were "simple", but in the beach area, there are houses valued at one million dollars, two houses with indoor swimming pools. "This group had everything, there were houses to live in, relax, and others as a cove or hideout for money." Caraballo said that, after eight days of hearings in the case, prosecutors will now be able to delve into the investigations into how the real estate was obtained - as well as 38 high-end vehicles that were bought with cash - and how they managed to skip the controls to acquire them. The line of investigation that follows is to verify how they managed to get hold of this amount of luxurious goods and, depending on what is found, it will be seen if there is criminal responsibility of other people, said the official. "You hardly manage to catch all the people in the network in the first phase of the investigation," he said. On December 9, a guarantee judge ordered the preventive detention of 51 of the 56 accused of crimes of illicit association and money laundering, who are accused of being part of a criminal organization linked to the Gulf Clan. One of the defendants, Xavier Bartuano, accepted a sentence of 68 months in prison for the crime of illicit association. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/most-operation-fisher-detainees-have-no-crime-records Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 16, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted December 16, 2021 Quote Operation Fisher haul - $10 million, mansions, farms, cars Posted 15/12/2021 A mansion with an ocean view, valued at $1 million; an apartment of almost half a million dollars, in the heart of the capital multiple farms valued at over$350,000 apiece were ordered confiscated by a Panama judge on Tuesday as a follow up to Operation Fisher. Three residences in La Chorrera, located in the Summer Hill upscale district Three residences in the community of Nueva Providencia, in Colón. It was in one of them that the $10 million cache was found. A company called Magna Pesca, which according to the investigations of the Public Ministry, was used as a screen to simulate activities related to fishing. This company is headed by José Luis General, the man who, according to the authorities, is the leader of the group. The fortune of this criminal structure was also made up of five maritime vessels valued at $400,000 with which fishing operations were simulated and which at the same time were used to transport drugs. Among the assets owned by this group that collaborates with the Clan del Golfo, of Colombia, there are 38 cars, which were in the name of frontmen. A real estate agency managed by a lawyer, who was in charge of creating joint-stock companies, was also intervened. Sources linked to the investigation revealed that this week the prosecution carried out visual inspections in some notaries, in search of information on this case. Last Monday, December 13, the guarantee judge Teodolinda Cardoze, legalized the seizure of these assets and $ 10 million found in the cove. In this case, 56 people are being investigated who are accused of the alleged aggravated illicit association, as perpetrators. 22 of them were also attributed money laundering. On December 9, Judge Cardoze ordered the preventive detention of 51 of the 56 defendants. While one of the defendants, Xavier Bartuano, accepted a sentence of 68 months in prison for the crime of illicit association. The Fisher operation is led by the First Drug Prosecutor's Office, which began the investigation in February 2020. According to acting Attorney General of the Nation Javier Caraballo, most of the defendants did not have a criminal record but accumulated large amounts of money and thus gradually structured groups such as the one dismantled by Operation Fisher. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/operation-fisher-haul-10-million-mansions-farms-cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 19, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted January 19, 2022 Quote Jail sentence of pregnant money-launderer replaced by fine Posted 18/01/2022 A judge of guarantees agreed to replace the sentence of 48 months in prison for illicit association and money laundering, of an official of the Judicial Branch, apprehended on Monday, January 17 in a case related to the investigation of "Operation Fisher". The sentence agreement was agreed upon at the request of the private lawyers and the representative of the Prosecutor's Office, due to the pregnancy of the convicted person The Judicial Branch explained that the 48 months in prison will be supplanted by 200 days of fines, at a rate of $10.50 per day, which makes a total of $2,100, payable to the National Treasury in a term of 12 months. In addition, a fine of $2,000 was imposed on the sanctioned person as an accessory penalty. In this sense, the sanctioned party must pay the National Treasury the sum of $4,100.00 in a period of one year. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/jail-sentence-of-pregnant-money-launderer-replaced-by-fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 26, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted January 26, 2022 Quote Four raids as Operation “Fisher” moves forward A residence in Hato Pintado was among those raided. Posted 26/01/2022 Raids were conducted in four districts of the country on Wednesday, January 26, in the development of the second phase of Operation “Fisher" operation which has already led to the arrest of 56 people allegedly linked to a Columbian drug cartel. A residence in Hato Pintado was among those hit by officials of the First Drug Prosecutor's Office and agents of the National Police. According to first reports, the Hato Pintafo incursion was carried out with the aim of locating "indications" of the criminal network dedicated to drug trafficking, which was dismantled last December in the first phase of "Fisher". On December 9, 2020, the guarantee judge Teodolinda Cardoze ordered the preventive detention of 51 of the 56 accused of crimes of illicit association and money laundering. The group of 56 people is accused of being part of a criminal organization linked to the Clan del Golfo, whose base is in Colombia. One of the defendants, Xavier Bartuano, agreed to a sentence of 68 months in prison for the crime of illicit association. Prosecutor Joseph Díaz said that the Colombian criminal organization was responsible for most of the drugs that reach the Panamanian coast. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/four-raids-as-operation-fisher-moves-forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 27, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted January 27, 2022 Quote Anti-drug operation arrests climb to 70 Posted 26/01/2022 Fourteen, people including three officials were arrested in 18 raids Wednesday in the second phase of Operation "Fisher" operation, the security authorities. The raids by officials from the First Drug Prosecutor's Office and agents from the National Police were carried out in Colón, central Panama, East Panama, and West Panama and the 14 detainees are allegedly linked to the Clan del Golfo. "Among them, an official from the National Assembly, one from the Panama Maritime Authority and a worker from Panama Metro," reported Carlos Valencia, from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigation. In the sector of La Cresta de Colón, the sum of $10,000 was seized, while a residence in Condado del Rey seized a firearm and 2,460 ammunition of different calibers. Two of the raids were carried out on companies dedicated to car rental in the capital city. Earlier, the Attorney General's Office reported that in the development of this second phase of the "Fisher" operation, a residence in Hato Pintado was raided. On December 9, 2020, the guarantee judge Teodolinda Cardoze ordered the preventive detention of 51 of the 56 accused of crimes of illicit association and money laundering. On that occasion, it was reported that nine officials were apprehended in the operation, of which five were linked to the security forces. The group of 56 people is accused of being part of a criminal organization linked to the Clan del Golfo, whose base is in Colombia. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/anti-drug-operation-arrests-climb-to-70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted January 30, 2022 Quote Charges filed against 12 snatched in cartel bust Posted 29/01/2022 The First Drug Prosecutor's Office filed charges for the crime of money laundering, for 12 of the 14 people apprehended in the second phase of Operation Fisher Two of the defendants were sentenced for the same crime. Through Operation Fisher, the Panamanian security forces have worked together to dismantle the criminal structure of the Colombian Clan del Golfo, which in Panama had collaborators located in the provinces of Panamá Centro, Colón, Panamá Oeste, and east of the capital city. The second phase took place on January 26 and the first phase was carried out on December 1, 2021, after 22 months of investigation detaining a total of 57 people Among those arrested are officials from the National Assembly, the Maritime Authority, the Social Security Fund and the Panama Metro. The Clan del Golfo is a criminal organization that arranged and organized the shipment, receipt and concealment of illicit substances, coming from Colombia, passing through Central America with the final destination of the United States, in addition to the concealment of money resulting from activities of drug trafficking. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/charges-filed-against-12-snatched-in-cartel-bust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted January 26 Author Moderators Share Posted January 26 Quote 51 detained in Operation Fisher called to trial Posted 25/01/2024 A total of 51 people detained in Operation Fisher were called to trial for alleged money laundering and aggravated illicit association, for linking to a criminal cell of the Gulf Clan. During the Operation the Drug Prosecutor's Office seized several luxury properties that were used as meeting places by the criminal network The guarantee judge Manuel Lezcano admitted the evacuation of 600 pieces of documentary evidence and 100 pieces of testimonial evidence that was adduced by the defense lawyers, while a total of 240 pieces of documentary evidence, 13 pieces of expert evidence, and five pieces of material evidence were admitted to the Drug Prosecutor's Office, which will be evacuated in the trial set for May 26, 2025. Operation Fisher uncovered a drug trafficking network linked to the Clan del Golfo, which used the coasts of the province of Colón to move drugs and money from its criminal activity. During the Operation authorities seized $10 million inside a residence in Costa Abajo in the Colon province. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/51-detained-in-operation-fisher-called-to-trial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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